Educational game

ABSTRACT

An educational game providing a playing board on which is represented a plat of contiguous parcels of real property cooperatively designating a multiplicity of potential paths, or rights of way, across the board; visually distinctive sets of property ownership markers individual to participants in the game; playing cards initially dealt to the participants in the game; playing cards initially dealt to the participants in predetermined equal number with a remainder consigned to a draw stack, the participants in successive turns playing a selected card and replacing such card from the draw stack, the cards containing one group designating generally advantageous actions to be taken by the participants with respect to the parcels or benefits received as such cards are selectively played and another group designating disadvantages imposed on opponents as such cards are selectively played on such opponents; and simulated money by which each participant seeks to acquire and to protect parcels of property so as to be the first to establish a right of way of continuous parcels across the board as permitted by the advantages achieved and disadvantages imposed by the cards played.

"United States Patent Small et al.

July 1, 1975 EDUCATIONAL GAME Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham [76] Inventors: Charles E. Small, 1314 W San Asflsmm gamma-Joseph Taylor Bruno, Fresno Calif 93704; Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-J-luebner & Worrel Lawrence E. Small, 3314 Sawtelle, Apt. No. l3, Los Angeles, Calif. ABSTRACT 90066; Charles l, 1314 An educational game providing a playing board on Sa Brunt), Fresno, Callf- 93704; which is represented a plat of contiguous parcels of f f R E 14730 313, real property cooperatively designating a multiplicity Vlsahaq Cahf- 93277 of potential paths, or rights of way, across the board; [22] Filed, No 12 1973 visually distinctive sets of property ownership markers I individual to participants in the game; playing cards [21] Appl- ,9 initially dealt to the participants in the game; playing cards initially dealt to the participants in predeter- 52 0.5. CI 273/135 AB 273x135 AA mined equal number with a remainder wnsigned [51 1 Int. (12 I l I I I. A63F you draw stack, the participants in successive turns playing [58] Field of 131 AB 21 selected card and replacing such card from the draw 273/131 BB R 34 134 b 34 stack, the cards containing one group designating gen- 134 GB ER GP 135 R erally advantageous actions to be taken by the partici- 1 135 pants with respect to the parcels or benefits received as such cards are selectively played and another group [56] References Cited designating disadvantages imposed on opponents as such cards are selectively played on such opponents; UNITED STATES PATENTS and simulated money by which each participant seeks 2.026932 l2/l935 Dafmw 273/64 ER to acquire and to protect parcels of property so as to 3,484,]08 l2/l969 r be the first to establish a right of way of continuous ff" 273N465 AC parcels across the board as permitted by the advanermdms tages achieved and disadvantages imposed by the cards played.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures "i Hall l1 I; I H. LR ul m f q 00021 l i l l sl h t iik izm l 0002 9 I U I 35?) n u 1 u a; at L z i g 17: 4

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f R f N 5; 55L 5 5 5 5 35 ,6 ITLE COMPAN Y PROBATE COURT SUPEmOR COURT FM? RECEIVE COLLECT FREE TITLE ESTATE CLAIM $5000 POUCY AUCTION LAND EXPENSE ACCOUNT HAS BEEN REINSTATED YOU ARE ELECTED SELECTED G T AND m REQUIRED TO THE BOARD PARCEL ENvuouMEmAL mmr OF DIRECTORS Is O NED En:

C L jL QLLU f' F r F E 57 PPLANNING 2Q T 1/ 51; 2E

COMMlSSlON BANK AIRPORT RECORDERS OFFICE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPENSE YOUR PLANE WILD DEED IMPACT REPORT N DISCOVERED REQUlRED ACCOU T OVERDRAWN HIJACKED IF SELECTED You MAY NOT PARCEL PUR H CE YOU MAY NOT LOSE ALL YOUR I5 O NED L PURCHASE CASH E2] PROPERTY TITLE INSURANCE L J d J E 1 1 1 EDUCATIONAL GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field Of The Invention The present invention relates to a game and more particularly to an educational game intended to familiarize participants with certain broad principles of business and law applicable to the acquisition of rights of way by public and private utilities while affording entertainment and intellectual challenge in the simulated acquisition and protection of real property.

2. Description Of The Prior Art While there are many educational games which teach geographical information and even games involving trading and bargaining, the applicants are not aware of any games which familiarize participants with broad legal principles applicable to the acquisition of rights of way by public and private utilities. Further, while many previous games have provided entertainment and intellectual challenge, the applicants know of no such games which involve the simulated acquisition and protection of real property in the competitive establishment of rights of way across a multiplicity of contiguous parcels of real property of varied characteristics and difficulties of acquisition and maintenance.

The prior art games over which the game of the present invention seeks to achieve a substantial improvement in interest, mental stimulation, training, and educational experience are typified by the following U.S. Patents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved game involving the simulated acquisition and protection of real property in the establishment of a right of way.

Another object is to provide a game which familiarizes participants with broad principles of law applicable to the acquisition of rights of way as for public and private utilities.

Another object is to provide a game in which skills in analysis, understanding of probabilities, the ability to plan in advance and to adjust such plan as circumstances make desirable are stimulated and improved.

Another object is to provide a game involving the simulated acquisition of a right of way in which the winner is the first to establish a right of way consisting of a succession of contiguous parcels of real property of interconnecting two points between WhICh the right of way is to extend.

Another object is to provide in such a game for the exercise of skill in obstructing competitors racing to establish such a right of way.

Further objects are to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a game for the purposes described.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a game board at appreciably reduced scale employed in the described embodiment of the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of dice utilized to determine by chance various numbers utilized in playing the game of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a somewhat enlarged perspective view of a stack of parcel markers used to indicate the ownership of various parcels of real property on the board 10 showing one side thereof utilized to designate that the parcels are subject to title insurance.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a stack of six of the markers of FIG. 3 showing the opposite sides thereof bearing symbols to identify utilities represented by sets of such markers.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the faces of sixteen types of playing cards which in various numbers make up a deck of fiftytwo cards having backs which are indistinguishable.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a deck of land grant or parcel identifying cards showing indistinguishable backs of the cards.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the deck of land grant cards of FIG. 6 but showing the distinctive faces thereof.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of simulated currency or script money used in playing the game of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in greater detail to the drawings of the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, in FIG. 1, a preferably square game board is shown at 10. Illus trated on the board is a plat of contiguous, intermingled, groups of distinctive parcels ll, l2, l3, and 14, each representative of a type of real property to which specific reference will subsequently be made. Suffice it at this point to note that 11 identifies rural parcels intended for sole tenancy, l2 identifies rural parcels intended for cotenancy, l3 identifies urban parcels, and 14 identifies land grant parcels collectively representative of a region to be traversed by paths or rights of way. The parcels afford participants in the game a multiplicity of potential paths of successively continuously engaging parcels extended across the board representative of rights of way. The four kinds of parcels are bounded by substantially right-angularly related sides with adjacent parcels having common boundaries. The plat of parcels ll, l2, l3 and 14 constitutes a playing area which is continuous between the sides. Each par cel can be identified by its respective township and range indicated at 15 and 16, respectively.

The goal of the game is to be the first to establish a right of way of contiguous parcels ll, l2, 13 and/or 14 of real property which are successively continuous from any side of the board 10 to an opposite side. Parcels 11, I2 and 14 must be acquired to be occupied or used. Parcels 13 are available for utilization by all players. In the game of the present invention, any desired number of participants can play. Parcels may be ac quired in any order but once such a successively con tinuous series of parcels is established it can be regarded as constituting a right of way starting at any side of the board and terminating at the opposite side of the board. Thus. the participants may be cndeavoring to establish their respective rights of way in the same direction as other participants. in the opposite direction from other participants or in right-angular relation to other participants. Further. as a game is played. some participants may find it desirable to change and to proceed between the other opposite sides of the board. In any event. the first player to establish a right of way between either pair of opposite sides of the board wins the game. So that the potential paths or rights of way can be continued from one parcel to more than one adjacent parcel. it will be noted that in many instances the parcels are staggered and that the sides of many parcels overlap the sides of more than one adjacent parcels to provide augmented opportunity for right of way progression.

The parcels ll, l2, l3 and 14 are preferably easily visually distinguishable even though intermingled. For example, the rural parcels 11 may conveniently be dark green with the cotenancy parcels 12 the same or distinguishing color. The urban parcels 13 may be yellow while the land grant parcels 14 are light green. Other harmonious color combinations will readily occur to those of artistic talent.

The parcels I] have their respective purchase prices designated at 17 while the cotenancy parcels 12 have their purchase prices for one-half interests therein designated at 18. The urban parcels 13 are not available for purchase and thus have no purchase prices but each bears its individual name at 19. The land grant parcels have their purchase prices designated at 20. The smaller urban parcels are emblematic of small towns and villages while the somewhat larger center urban parcel represents a city. The rights of way may, but need not. proceed through urban parcels.

In playing the game of the present invention, it is assumed that each participant is the representative of a private utility which needs to acquire a right of way across the board I0. As parcels of property ll, 12 and 14 are acquired. it is desirable for each participant to be able to designate such acquisition or occupancy. Thus. a plurality of sets of markers is provided, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. While the markers may be of any desired form, they are preferably of circular coin shape, provide opposite sides, and are conveniently formed of plastic. On one side, each marker provides the letter T at 31 to indicate that the title to the parcel on which the marker is placed is insured. The sets are preferably of distinctive and readily distinguishable color with all markers in each set being of the same color. Further. each marker has represented on the side opposite to the T" 31, a symbol indicative of the particular private utility represented. In the embodiment of the game shown in the drawings. the symbol 32 takes the form of a telephone to represent a telephone company; 33, a locomotive for a railroad company; 34, a lightning slash for an electric company; 35, a bus for a transportation company; 36, an oil derrick for an oil company; and 37, a faucet for a water company. It is to be understood that more sets can be provided, if de sired. fewer sets utilized than the six suggested. and the same or other symbols 32 represented thereon.

Since the urban parcels 13 are available for use by all players and are not subject to purchase. the markers 30 are not positioned on such parcels.

A portion of a deck 40 of playing cards is shown in FIG. 5. Any desired number of playing cards may be provided but fifty-two is a convenient total number. The deck is divided into two groups of cards which are visually distinguishable by printing in two different colors. such as one in black and the other in red. In FIG. 5, the cards with black printing are designated at 45 through 57 and those printed in red at through 72. The cards which are printed in black are cards which are advantageous to the player who plays them and the cards which are printed in red may be played by a player on his opponent to the disadvantage of the opponent. In a sense the black cards are award or benefit cards useable by their players to achieve the award or benefit while the red cards are penalty cards which can be played on an opponent to penalize him.

Referring specifically to the black cards. cards 45 bear a designator X" and the legend Purchase Any Unowned Parcel. Thus. when a participant plays any card 45, he then may purchase from the bank. as will subsequently be described. any unowned parcel ll, 12, or 14 on the board 10 for the price designated thereon. Eighteen of the cards 45 through 50 are provided in the deck of fifty-two cards. Cards 46 are designated 2" and entitle the participant playing the same to Purchase Any $2,000.00 Unowned Parcel. Cards 47 bear the designator "3" and the instruction Purchase Any $3,000.00 Unowned Parcel. Cards 48 are designated 4" and bear the legend Purchase Any $4,000.00 Unowned Parcel. Cards 49 bear the title 5 and the legend Purchase Any $5,000.00 Unowned Parcel. Cards 50 are entitled "6" and bear the instruction Purchase Any $6,000.00 Unowned Parcel". There are preferably three each of cards 45 through 50. There are six cards 51 bearing the designator P" and authoriza tion to Purchase Any Owned Uninsured Parcel At $2,000.00 Over Stated Price". Any participant playing a card P may purchase from the owner any parcel ll, 12 or 14 owned by any other participant at such price except for such property subject to title insurance or land grant title. as will subsequently become apparent. Cards 45 through 51 also preferably bear the title "Brokers Office to indicate the nature of the transaction authorized. For purposes of the foregoing discussion one-half of each parcel 12 should be considered as a $3,000.00 parcel.

Cards 52, of which there are four, are designated T" and bear the authorization to Purchase Title Policy and the title Title Company. Such a title policy can be purchased from the bank by any participant who plays a card 52 for one'half of the designated purchase price l7, 18 or 20 of such property. There are two additional cards indicated at 53 which have the designator T" inscribed in a circle. They bear the title Title Company". "Receive Free Title Policy" and "You Are Elected To Board Of Directors. A player playing a card 53 receives free title insurance on any parcel ll, 12 or 14 owned by him which he selects. The acquisi tion of title insurance on a given parcel is evidenced by turning the marker 30 thereon with the T 31 upwardly disposed. Thereafter. such property is immune from loss or purchase by another player except by an opponent who discovers a wild deed or claims a land grant as will subsequently be described.

Two cards of the form shown at 54 are entitled Pro bate Court and designated by a gavel. They bear Estate Auction" and lf Selected Parcel is Unowned. When a participant plays a card 54, he may then select a parcel 11, 12 or 14 to be auctioned. The selection is made in the same manner as for a wild deed, as subsequently described and is a blend of chance and skill. If the parcel is unowned, it is auctioned off to the highest bidder. Of course, a player should time the play of this card to his own advantage, For example, it is advantageous when the player has substantial cash and is under no disability to purchase. If forced to play the card at another time, the player should endeavor to select a parcel which will not benefit another player. A successful bidder acquires the property selected and pays the amount bid to a participant who is designated a banker". If the parcel selected is already owned, no auction is had.

One Superior Court card 55 is provided. it has a scales of justice as a designator and authorizes the player to Claim Land Grant". When a player plays this card, he acquires without purchase one of the parcels 14 designated by means to be described. If it is owned but has no title insurance, the player playing the card receives the parcel and the previous owner receives nothing for it. If it is owned and subject to title insurance, the player playing the card receives the parcel and the previous owner receives double the designated purchase price 17, 18 or 20 from the bank. The player claiming a land grant places his marker on the parcel 14 with the T" 31 upwardly disposed and thereafter such parcel cannot be lost under any circum stances.

Ten cards 56 bear as a designator and are entitled Home Office cards. They state Collect $5,000.00 Expense Account Has Been Reinstated And All Required Environmental lmpact Reports Have Been Filed.

Two cards 57 designated by a fanciful representation of a deed, are entitled Recorders Office and state Wild Deed Discovered lf Selected Parcel Is Owned. When a player plays a card 57, or a Probate Court card 54, he first selects either a township number or a range number of a parcel 11, 12 or 14. This is done entirely arbitrarily by the player who simply announces his choice. He then rolls either or both of the dice 58, as he prefers, to determine the companion number re quired specifically to identify a selected parcel. The total shown by the dice becomes the other designator. If he selects Township 11 and rolls an 8, the Range is 8. If he selects Range 4 and rolls a 12, the Township is 12. When a parcel is so selected after a card 57 has been played and if the parcel so designated is owned by any participant, unless the owner has land grant title to that parcel, the parcel is lost to the player playing the card who acquires it without purchase and that participant who previously owned the parcel must remove his marker. Of course, the new owner places his marker on the newly acquired parcel. If the parcel selected is owned by another participant who has claimed a land grant for that parcel, the owner retains it and the player playing the card and making the selection receives nothing. If the owner who loses the parcel has title in surance on that parcel, he receives double the purchase price 17, 18 or 20 of such parcel from the bank as compensation for the loss. When a parcel is so selected after playing a Probate Court card 54, and the parcel is unowned, it is auctioned to the highest bidder, as described above.

Referring to the red group of cards 70, 71 and 72 of the deck 40 which impose a disadvantage on any participant on which such cards are played. three cards are designated P", entitled Planning Commission and command, Environmental lmpact Report Required You May Not Purchase Property". When such a card is played on a participant, he may not bid at auction or buy property owned or unowned until he has returned to the Home Office by playing a card 56. Three cards P" are employed in the deck.

Three cards 71 are designated T in red, are enti tled Bank and indicate an Expense Account Overdrawn You May Not Purchase Title Insurance". When a participant has one of these cards played on him he cannot purchase title insurance until he has returned to the Home Office by playing a card 56.

Finally, one card 72 is provided bearing the indicator SS in red, entitled Airport and stating Your Plane ls Hijacked Lose All Your Cash"v When this card is played on a participant, that participant loses all of the cash which he then possesses represented by simulated money to which reference will subsequently be made and as shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, twenty land grant cards corresponding to the twenty land grant parcels 14 are provided. On one side, such cards bear the title Land Grant and are indistinguishable. On the opposite side they bear a township designation 81 and a range designation 82. The township and range designations identify the cards respective parcels 14.

If desired, the cards 45 through 57, 70 through 72 and 80 may bear any desired decorative material, not shown. For example, the applicants prefer to decorate the Land Grant cards 80 by reduced replicas of the actual maps which were drawn to obtain Mexican land grants in the State of California. For purposes of sim plicity, such ornamentation is omitted from the draw ings.

At the beginning of the game, each participant is given two Land Grant cards 80. They are placed face down and each participant exercises caution to keep his opponents from knowing which parcels 14 are represented by his cards 80. Of course, he familiarizes himself with this information. When he plays a Superior Court card 55, he turns up his Land Grant card 80 to designate the parcel 14 to which he wishes to claim land grant title. Thereafter such parcel cannot be lost, taken, or purchased by another player under any circumstances. When a player has used both of his cards 80 and needs an additional such card because of playing a card 55, he draws a card 80 from those remaining.

As shown in FIG. 8, simulated currency in the form of Five Hundred Dollar bills 90, One Thousand Dollar bills 91, and Five Thousand Dollar bills 92 are provided. Any desired number of bills in various denominations can be utilized but it has been found adequate to provide twenty of each of the bills 90, 91 and 92.

OPERATION The manner of playing the game of the present invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

The game may be played by any reasonable plural number of players but preferably by from two to six players. Each player is given a set of markers 30 of a common color and symbol 32 to indicate his particular utility. The goal of each player is to acquire and maintain parcels 11, 12, and 14 of property which when utilized with urban parcels 13 establish a right of way from one side of the board to the opposite side with the parcels in continuous successively engaging relation. The first player to achieve such a right of way is the winner of the game.

A banker is selected among the participants by rolling the dice 58 or otherwise and the banker is the first dealer. As dealer, he shuffles the deck of cards 40 and deals five cards to each participant, placing the remaining cards face down in any convenient location in a draw stack. Each participant is given Five Thousand Dollars in currency of the denominations shown at 90, 91 and 92 and two Land Grant cards 80 which are dealt by chance and not revealed to the other players until played. Each player, of course informs himself of the particular parcels 14 to which his Land Grant cards 80 relate. The remainder of the currency is placed in the possession of the banker for payments required as the game proceeds.

The player to the left of the banker and dealer initiates play and each participant plays in turn thereafter in succession clockwise about the board.

Each player first plays a selected one of his cards 40. If it is a card from the black group, 45 through 57, he plays the card face up in front of himself. If the card played is from the red group, 70 through 72, it is played on any other participant. If the red card is the Airport card 72, the participant on which the card is played must forfeit all of his currency 90, 91 and 92 to the bank. If the Planning Commission card 70 is played, the participant on which it is played cannot purchase any property until he first plays a Home Office card 56. If the Bank card 71 is played, the participant on which it is played cannot purchase title insurance until he has played a Home Office card 56. The Planning Commission card 70 and the Bank card 71 must remain face up in front of the player on whom it is played until that participant plays a Home Office card 56 wich removes the disadvantages imposed by the red card. It then may be placed in a discard pile.

When a black card 45 through 57 is played, the player may take the action designated on the card as previously discussed. However, a player is not compelled to take any such action except when the Probate Court card 54 or the Recorders Office card 57 is played. If either the Recorder's Office card 57 or the Probate Court card 54 is played, the player selects a parcel 11, 12, or 14 by selecting either a township number 15 or a range number 16 ofa parcel and rolling the dice 58 to determine the opposite number required to designate a specific parcel. If the Recorder's Office card 57 is being played, and if the parcel selected is owned by any other player, the parcel is lost by such other player and he must remove his marker unless he has claimed a land grant for that parcel, as previously described, and the player playing card 57 places his marker 30 on the parcel. If the previous owner has title insurance on that parcel, he receives double the stated purchase price of such parcel from the bank as the par cel is conveyed to the new owner. If the parcel selected is subject to land grant immunity, the player who has played the Recorders Office card 57 does not acquire the parcel and it is thus lost to him. If the parcel selected is unowned, no action results from the play.

When a player plays the Probate Court card 54 he selects a parcel 11. 12 or 14 in the same manner as for a Recorders Office card 57. If the parcel selected is unowned, it is auctioned to the highest bidder among the participants. The player who plays the Probate Court card may make the first bid if he has the money to do so and is not under a disability to purchase property because of having a card or 71 played on him. If he is disqualified the next player in the clockwise direction from him bids first. The bidding continues among the participants in clockwise order and the property selected is sold to the highest bidder whopays his bid purchase price to the bank. If the parcel selected is owned, no action results from the play.

When a player plays a Brokers Office card 45, he may purchase from the bank any unowned parcel 11, 12 or 14 by payment to the bank of the indicated purchase price l7, 18 or 20.

When a participant plays any Brokers Office card 46 through 50, he may purchase any unowned parcel 11, 12 or 14 having the purchase price designated on the card played. The purchase is consummated by paying the designated amount to the bank.

When a participant plays a Brokers Office card 51, he may purchase any parcel 11, 12 or 14 owned by another player which has not been insured by the owner at the purchase price indicated thereon 17, 18 or 20 plus the additional amount set forth on the card 51 played. The payment is made to the previous owner of the parcel purchased.

As property is purchased by participants in the game, they place their markers 30 thereon with the symbols 32 upwardly disposed unless title insurance is acquired on the parcel and then the T" 31 is placed upwardly.

When a player plays a Title Company card 52, he may obtain title insurance on any parcel 11, 12, or 14 owned by him by paying the bank a sum equal to onehalf of the purchase price 17, 18 or 20 set forth on the parcel. As before, when the title insurance is obtained, the marker 30 on the parcel insured is turned over so as upwardly to dispose the side 31 bearing the T". The markers are similarly turned over when a land grant is claimed.

If a player plays a Title Company card 53 indicating that he has been elected to the board of directors of a title company, he receives free title insurance on any selected parcel he owns and turns his marker 30 over so that the T" 31 is upwardly disposed.

Whenever a participant plays a Home Office card 56, he receives Five Thousand Dollars from the bank, and discards any cards 70 and 71 previously played on him.

A land grant may be claimed when a participant plays the Superior Court card 55 although he is not required to do so. When the card 55 is played, one of the player's Land Grant cards selected by the player is turned face up and his marker 30 is placed on the parcel 14 indicated by the card by Township 81 and Range 82. The marker is placed with the T" side 31 upwardly disposed. Once the land grant is claimed, that title is superior to all other property titles and the parcel may not be lost, taken, or purchased by another player under any circumstances. It, therefore, requires no title insurance. When a land grant is claimed on any parcel 14 and that parcel has previously been occupied and purchased by another player, the other player loses the parcel to the new owner and must remove his marker. If such parcel has been insured by the prior owner who has not claimed a land grant on it, he receives double the stated purchase price 17, 18 or of the parcel from the bank as the player successfully claiming the land grant deprives him of the parcel. lf a participant has claimed a land grant on any parcel 14, no one else can ever do so because the Land Grant card 80 designating such parcel remains face up in front of the owner.

It should be borne in mind that when any participant has had a Bank card 71 played on him, his expense account is regarded as overdrawn and he cannot buy title insurance until he plays a Home Office card 56. Also, when a Planning Commission card 70 has been played on a participant, he may not bid at auction or buy property owned or unowned until he plays a Home Office card 56.

After a player plays a card from the deck 40, and has taken the action or imposed the disadvantage designated, he draws a replacement card from the top of the draw stack. When there are no further cards in the draw stack, play nevertheless proceeds in turn until all playing cards in the possession of the participants are played. All of the played cards, except Planning Commission cards 70 or Bank cards 71, which are face up adjacent to the participant on whom such cards have been played, are then re-shuffled and dealt by a second dealer adjacent to the preceding dealer in a clockwise direction. Each subsequent deal passes to the next player in the clockwise direction.

As each player endeavors to acquire his right of way across the board 10, he may acquire parcels l1, l2 and 14 in any relationship permitted by the playing cards drawn and the parcels, when acquired, need not be contiguous to parcels previously acquired. However, the completion of the right of way requires the parcels therein to be successively contiguous across the board.

Every player is deemed to have a free right of way through any of the urban parcels 13 in any direction desired. Parcels which do not have a common boundary are not deemed to be contiguous for right of way purposes even though the corners may touch on the diagonal. Parcels 1] and 14 which are overlapped by adjacent urban parcels 13 are deemed to be contiguous for right of way purposes.

A participant may establish a right of way across the board without traversing any of the urban parcels 13, if he so desires.

All purchases and other transactions are settled immediately by payment with the simulated currency 90 through 92. No credit is allowed and no player may borrow or receive a gift of currency from another player or the bank.

The cotenancy parcels 12 may be occupied by two players with each owning an undivided one-half interest. Also, a single player may own both of the undivided interests in such parcel but this is not required in order to complete a right of way.

In the unlikely event that all of the parcels 11 having an indicated purchase price of Six Thousand Dollars, and all of the land grant parcels 14 having indicated purchase prices of Five Thousand Dollars are owned without any player having completed a right of way, any player when it is his turn, but before he plays any card, may declare a stalemate. in such event, the total value of assets of each player is determined and the player with the highest total wins. Assets are intended to include both currency and property. The currency is appraised at face value. Uninsured property is valued at the indicated purchase price and insured property is valued at double the indicated purchase price.

if a participant purchases property or title insurance when forbidden to do so because a Planning Commission card or a Bank card 71 is still in effect which has been played on him, the purchase stands unless some other player declares the purchase illegal prior to the time the offending player has played a Home Office card 56. The purchase is deemed complete when the offending player releases his currency to the bank whether or not he has yet received change. Any player who declares an illegal purchase to be such prior to the time the offending player plays a Home Office card 56 shall be entitled to receive the parcel and/or insurance so purchased without making any payment for it. The title insurance may only be used on a parcel of equal or lesser value to the parcel for which it was purchased and if the player declaring the illegal purchase has no such parcel the insurance is forfeited. If more than one player declares an illegal purchase at the same time, the dice 58 are rolled and whichever throws the higher number receives the property or insurance as the case may be.

It will be apparent that the game of the present invention familarizes participants with the broad principles of business and law applicable to the acquisition and protection of real property in establishing a right of way. It stimulates skill in analysis, understanding of probabilities, the ability to plan in advance and to adjust plans to meet new contingencies. it permits the exercise of skill in obstructing competitors while advancing toward a desired goal. It simulates the acquisition and protection of real property in an interesting, challenging and entertaining manner.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A game simulating the acquisition of property rights in establishing a potential path comprising:

A. a game board having a playing area representative of a region to be traversed by said potential paths, said area being bounded by side edges between which the area is continuous;

B. means partitioning the playing area into a plat of contiguous, interfitted, mutually exclusive, substantially polygonal parcels having sides and corners, said parcels being of different sizes so that the sides of the larger parcels extend along and beyond the sides of adjacent smaller parcels so that there are smaller parcels contiguous with the sides of the larger parcels and other smaller parcels which have comers contiguous with the corners of the larger parcels said contiguous corners being interfitted with one thereof extended into the other to form a common angular boundary between their respective parcels, said smaller and larger parcels cooperatively defining a multiplicity of potentially interfering paths between opposite side edges of the playing area continuous from parcel to contiguous parcel; and

C. a plurality of sets of visually distinguishable markers adapted individually to occupy selected parcels on the game board to delineate acquisition of par cels in establishing a path.

2. The game of claim 1 in which the parcels are disposed in intersecting rows.

3. The game of claim 2 in which the larger parcels are located at the intersections of the rows.

4. A game for a plurality of players which simulates the acquisition of property rights in establishing a path comprising a game board having a playing area continuous between opposite side edges thereof simulating a region to be traversed by the path from a side edge to an opposite side edge and being partitioned into a plat of contiguous, intermingled groups of interfitted, polygonal parcels, said parcels being of different sizes and having common boundaries so that the boundaries of some of the parcels extend along the boundaries of more than one contiguous parcel and successively adjacent boundaries on the invididual parcels are angularly related to form corners with the corners of adjacent parcels being contiguous and extended one into the other to provide common angularly related boundaries, the parcels forming a multiplicity of potential paths from each parcel to a plurality of contiguous parcels with such potential paths extending between opposite side edges of the playing area; sets of markers individual to the players adapted individually to occupy the parcels to designate acquisition of rights therein and the markers of each set being visually distinct from the markers of the other sets; and chance means to award the players opportunities to place their respective markers individually on selected parcels.

5. The game of claim 4 in which the parcels are disposed in intersecting rows and the larger parcels are located at the intersections of the rows.

6. A game which simulates the acquisition of rights 5 in establishing a path across a region to be traversed comprising:

A. a game board having a playing area representative of said region to be traversed and bounded by right angularly related side edges, said playing areas being continuous between said side edges;

B. visual means partitioning the playing area into a. plat of contiguous, interfitted, substantially rectangular parcels having right-angularly related boundaries substantially parallel to the side edges of the playing area with adjacent boundaries forming corners, said parcels being of different sizes so that the boundaries of the larger parcels extend along and beyond the boundaries of adjacent smaller parcels so that there are smaller parcels having boundaries contiguous with the boundaries of the larger parcels and smaller parcels having corners contiguous with the corners of the larger parcels, the contiguous corners of the smaller and larger parcels being interfitted with one thereof extended into the other to form a common boundary between their respective parcels;

C. a plurality of sets of visually distinguishable markers for players of the game adapted individually to occupy selected parcels on the playing area to designate acquisition of parcels to establish such a path; and

D. chance means to award players opportunities to place their respective markers on selected parcels to designate path formation. 

1. A game simulating the acquisition of property rights in establishing a potential path comprising: A. a game board having a playing area representative of a region to be traversed by said potential paths, said area being bounded by side edges between which the area is continuous; B. means partitioning the playing area into a plat of contiguous, interfitted, mutually eXclusive, substantially polygonal parcels having sides and corners, said parcels being of different sizes so that the sides of the larger parcels extend along and beyond the sides of adjacent smaller parcels so that there are smaller parcels contiguous with the sides of the larger parcels and other smaller parcels which have corners contiguous with the corners of the larger parcels said contiguous corners being interfitted with one thereof extended into the other to form a common angular boundary between their respective parcels, said smaller and larger parcels cooperatively defining a multiplicity of potentially interfering paths between opposite side edges of the playing area continuous from parcel to contiguous parcel; and C. a plurality of sets of visually distinguishable markers adapted individually to occupy selected parcels on the game board to delineate acquisition of parcels in establishing a path.
 2. The game of claim 1 in which the parcels are disposed in intersecting rows.
 3. The game of claim 2 in which the larger parcels are located at the intersections of the rows.
 4. A game for a plurality of players which simulates the acquisition of property rights in establishing a path comprising a game board having a playing area continuous between opposite side edges thereof simulating a region to be traversed by the path from a side edge to an opposite side edge and being partitioned into a plat of contiguous, intermingled groups of interfitted, polygonal parcels, said parcels being of different sizes and having common boundaries so that the boundaries of some of the parcels extend along the boundaries of more than one contiguous parcel and successively adjacent boundaries on the invididual parcels are angularly related to form corners with the corners of adjacent parcels being contiguous and extended one into the other to provide common angularly related boundaries, the parcels forming a multiplicity of potential paths from each parcel to a plurality of contiguous parcels with such potential paths extending between opposite side edges of the playing area; sets of markers individual to the players adapted individually to occupy the parcels to designate acquisition of rights therein and the markers of each set being visually distinct from the markers of the other sets; and chance means to award the players opportunities to place their respective markers individually on selected parcels.
 5. The game of claim 4 in which the parcels are disposed in intersecting rows and the larger parcels are located at the intersections of the rows.
 6. A game which simulates the acquisition of rights in establishing a path across a region to be traversed comprising: A. a game board having a playing area representative of said region to be traversed and bounded by right angularly related side edges, said playing areas being continuous between said side edges; B. visual means partitioning the playing area into a plat of contiguous, interfitted, substantially rectangular parcels having right-angularly related boundaries substantially parallel to the side edges of the playing area with adjacent boundaries forming corners, said parcels being of different sizes so that the boundaries of the larger parcels extend along and beyond the boundaries of adjacent smaller parcels so that there are smaller parcels having boundaries contiguous with the boundaries of the larger parcels and smaller parcels having corners contiguous with the corners of the larger parcels, the contiguous corners of the smaller and larger parcels being interfitted with one thereof extended into the other to form a common boundary between their respective parcels; C. a plurality of sets of visually distinguishable markers for players of the game adapted individually to occupy selected parcels on the playing area to designate acquisition of parcels to establish such a path; and D. chance means to award players opportunities to place their respective markers on selected parCels to designate path formation. 